A Preliminary Assessment on the Northern Rooms of the Temple Complex Dedicated to the God Haldi in the Citadel of Ayanis

Abstract

Urartu Kingdom, which established its homeland in the high plateaus and mountains of Eastern Anatolia, experienced its most prosperous period in the mid-7^th century BC. One of the most significant achievements during this period, accomplished by the Rusa, son of Argishti was the construction and development of the Ayanis Fortress/City. Continuous excavations at Ayanis since 1989 have revealed numerous architectural groups. Among these, the most important and captivating is undoubtedly the “Temple Complex,” dedicated to the chief god Haldi. Among the components of the Temple Complex – comprising the temple courtyard, cella, platform hall, storage rooms, and the northern rooms– the only area where excavations remain incomplete is the northern rooms. Although a portion of these rooms was excavated during the 1997-1998 seasons, they were subsequently backfilled before the work was finalized. Archaeological investigations in the Temple Courtyard revealed no evidence of a gateway along its western wall; consequently, a direct connection between the courtyard and the residential areas to the west could not be established. The ongoing excavation work in the northern rooms are poised to shed light on this connection. In 2020, with the commencement of a new excavation phase an area covering approximately 350 square meters was reopened. The excavations in these rooms, which are notable for their monumental dimensions, are set to continue in the upcoming seasons. Studies aimed at understanding the function of the northern rooms have yielded clues in the westernmost section of this arrangement, suggesting a likely association with residential areas. Although the excavation of the “northern rooms” is still in progress, this publication provides an initial assessment of the findings and data recovered from this area.